Aspect and modality in Kwa languages (John Benjamins Pub. Co., 2008)
Includes bibliographical references and index
Introduction / Felix K. Ameka and M.E. Kropp Dakubu -- Tense, aspect and mood in Akan / L.A. Boadi -- Akan as an aspectual language / E. Kweku Osam -- Ga verb features / M.E. Kropp Dakubu -- Aspect and modality in Ewe : a survey / Felix K. Ameka -- The potential morpheme in Ewe / James Essegbey -- Imperfective constructions : progressive and prospective in Ewe and Dangme / Felix K. Ameka and M.E. Kropp Dakubu -- Tense, aspect and mood in Tuwuli / Matthew Harley
This book explores the thesis that in the Kwa languages of West Africa, aspect and modality are more central to the grammar of the verb than tense. Where tense marking has emerged it is invariably in the expression of the future, and therefore concerned with the impending actualization or potentiality of an event, hence with modality, rather than the purely temporal sequencing associated with tense. The primary grammatical contrasts are perfective versus imperfective. The main languages discussed are Akan, Dangme, Ewe, Ga and Tuwuli while Nzema-Ahanta, Likpe and Eastern Gbe are also mentioned